System for freeing motor vehicles



y 1941- K; A. OESTERHELD 2,240,570

SYSTEM FOR FREEING MOTOR VEHICLES Filed Oct. 12, 1938 m vemor II KARL A. UESTEKWELD Afforneys Patented May 6, 1941 r orrl'ce 7 SYSTEM FOR FREEING 'MOTOR VEHICLES Karl Adolf Ocsterheld, Eichrie'de, near wunstorf,

' Germany Applicationfictober 12, 1938-, Serial No. 234,703

, In Germany October 15, 1937 3 Claims.

My invention relates to a system for freeing motor-vehicle when stuck, and, more particular ly for pulling the front wheels thereof out of ditches, mud holes or the like and to simultaneously propel the vehicle forward; When a motor-vehicle is sunk into sandy or soft soil or gets stuck in impassable country preventing the driven wheels from gripping, it presents considerable difficulties, to free the vehicle out of its position. For this purpose, it has been proposed prior to my invention to attach, to the outside of the driven wheels, cable drums from which cables are extended to a stationary point, for instance to a post to be rammed into the soil. When the vehicle is then put in operation, the cables are wound up on the cable drums with considerable force and are brought to such a condition or tautness that they will pull the vehicle towards the stationary point out of the ditch or hole.

This remedy fails, however, in case the vehicle is deeply sunk in with its front wheels and is to be pulled out in forward direction. It is the object of my invention to solve this problem. Prior to my invention, it has been proposed to extend the cables from the cable drums mounted on the driven rearwheels to a f xed point in front of the vehicle, the cables passing through slots of sleeves mounted on the hubs of the front wheels. This isdisclosed in the Patent No. 1,340,349 to Snideman, of May 18, 1920. In this arrangement, however, the cables are guided on the hubs of the front wheels so as to extend above the centre lines thereof. While this arrangement permits the vehicle to be pulled out forwardly, if it should get caught with its rear wheels in a ditch, as may happen when turning, it is neither intended nor adapted to solve the above explained problem. In order to free the vehicle, when the non-driven front Wheels are deeply sunk in, it is an indispensable requirement that these front wheels be efliciently lifted, as otherwise any propelling force exerted on the vehicle will only tend to drive the front wheels deeper into the mud.

I have found a very simple and effective solution permitting the vehicle to be pulled out forwardly, even should the frontwheels be sunk in very deeply. I extend the cables from the drums attached to the rear wheels to a stationary point, in front of the vehicle, passing the cables beneath and around sheaves attached to the front wheels. When the vehicle is then started, the cables are wound up on the drums of the driven rear wheels and are thus made taut thereby lifting the front wheels out of the ditch or hole, acting at the same time as rails on which the sheaves attached to the front wheels are running obliquely upwards out of the ditch. My invention affords a valuable possibility, particularly for army vehicles, of traversing ditches with an ordinary vehicle without outside help. 7 A preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in'which Fig l shows an automobile in the position in which the front wheels are deeply sunk into a ditch, with the cable attached and laid out ready for operation, i Fig. 2 shows the vehicle during the pulling out operation, i

Fig. 3 is a plan view, partly in section along line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

A cable drum II is attached to the outside of each of the driven rear wheels [0, and projects terally beyond the plane of the tire. This drum is provided with an outer flange l2 and with suitable means for the attachment and ready detachment of a cable It. These means may comprise, for instance, a hole l4 provided in the flange I2 and adapted to be engaged by a hook fastened to the end of the cable I3.

To the front wheels E3 of the vehicle, I attach sheaves :2 which preferably have a larger diameter than the drums H and are provided with a peripheral groove. Preferably, the cables 13 are the ends of a single continuous cable which runs over a roll l5, suitably attached at a stationary point in front of the vehicle at a suitable distance therefrom. For this purpose a block l6 carrying the roll l5 may be anchored to a tree or the like. However, I use a known anchoring mechanism which is illustrated in the drawing and comprises a post l1 rammed into the soil and having its upper end connected by an auxiliary cable IS with a second post l9.

In order to pull the vehicle forwardly out of the ditchthis is the problem of my invention- I first place the hooks provided at the two ends of the cable l3 into the holes [4 of the drums II. This having been done, I lay out the cables in such a way that they engage the grooves of the sheaves l2 from below and position the block It at a point in front of the vehicle within the longitudinal central vertical plane thereof. Then I ram in the two posts I! and I9 and attach the block I6 to the post I1. These operations require but a few minutes. Then I get into the car and start it.

As the front wheels i3 are firmly seated in the ditch, the rear wheels will first skid thus winding up the cable ends l3 on the drums I l with a considerable force which, owing to the comparatively small diameter of the drums l l, is many times higher than the maximum propelling force of the rear wheels under ordinary driving conditions. In this way the cables l3 are made taut and thereby lift the front wheels out of the ditch as shown in Fig. 2. At the same time the cables I3 act as rails on which the sheaves l2 run forwardly and upwardly.

Thus, it will be readily appreciated that the cable tothe drums, to lay out the cable and to attach the same by means of the anchoring mechanism. Therefore, my invention permits the driver to free the vehicle within a very short time without outside help.

The manner in which the cable drums are attached depends on the specific type of the vehicle. When the invention is applied to trucks, the appearance of which is of little importance, it is preferable to'leave the drums permanently attached to the wheels, whereas I prefer a detachable attachment of the drums, when applied to passenger cars.

This detachable attachment is particularly simple, if the bolts 29 serving to detachably fasten the wheel to the hub are used at the same time for the attachment of the cable drum and, for this purpose, extend through holes provided in the inner flange 2! of the drum placed on the wheel.

In lieu of a single cable running past the equalizing roll 15, two outlets may be employed and attached to separate points. Instead of cables, chains or other pulling elements may be used.

While I described my invention by reference to a specific embodiment thereof I wish it to be understood that it is capable of numerous modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a system for pulling the front wheels of a motor driven vehicle out of ditches, mud holes or the like, the combination comprising a motorvehicle having front wheels and driven rear hicle having front wheels wheels, a cable drum attached to each'of said rear wheels, a sheave attached to each of said front wheels androtatable therewith, an anchor located at a distance from and in front of the vehicle, and a cable attached to each of said drums and extending therefrom in a line substantially coincidental with a horizontal line between each set of front and rear wheels, towards said sheave and beneath the same to said anchor, whereby said cable will be made taut upon operation of said drum, serving the dual function of lifting the front wheel and acting as a rail for the 7 forward propulsion thereof.

2. In asystem for pulling the front wheels of a motor driven vehicle out of ditches, mud holes or the like, the combination comprising a motor-vehicle having front wheels and driven rear wheels, a cable drum attached to each of said rear wheels,

a sheave attachedto each of said front wheels rotatable therewith and having a larger diameter than said drum, an anchor located at a distance from and in front of the vehicle, and a cable attached to each of said drums and extending therefrom in a line substantially coincidental with a horizontal line between each set of front and rear wheels, towards said sheave and 'beneath'the same to said anchor, whereby said cable will be made taut upon operation of said drum serving the dual function of lifting the front wheel and acting as a rail for the forward propulsion thereof. 1

3. In a system for pulling the front wheels of a motor driven vehicle out of ditches, mud holes or the like, the combination comprising a motor ve- 7 and driven rear wheels,

bolts for detachably securing said rear wheels, a cable drum attached to each of said rear wheels by said bolts, a sheave attached toeach of said front wheels and rotatable therewith, an anchor located at a distance from and in front of the vehicle, and a cable attached to each of said drums and extending therefrom in a'line substantially coincidental with a horizontal line between each set of front and rear wheels, towards said sheave and beneath the same straight to said anchor, being connected thereto, whereby said cable will be made taut upon operation of said drum, serving the dual function of lifting the front wheel and acting as a rail for the forward propulsion thereof. KARL ADOLF OESTERI-IELD. 

